JASH BASH 2023

Lauren Hurley ·

JASH BASH 2023 was held on October 24, 2023 at Bayou Music Center in downtown Houston.

In addition to marking JASH’s 55th anniversary, the event highlighted the gastronomic traditions from Japan and Mexico that have shaped Houston’s living culture, and celebrated the strengthening of U.S.-Japan business ties in our region as well as 135 years of special ties shared between Japan and Mexico.

Guests were greeted by Mariachi Reyes as well as treated to a special performance from Japan Festival favorite Kaminari Taiko.

Mr. Bob Harvey, President and CEO of Greater Houston Partnership, was presented with the 2023 Houston-Japan Friendship Award which honors local individuals and organizations for contributions to the fostering of Japan-America friendship and understanding in Houston. JASH presented this award in recognition of Mr. Harvey’s commitment to promoting the continued collaboration and goodwill exchanges that foster economic development between Houston and Japan.

JASH also presented Ms. Candice Kumai, Wellness Writer and Chef, with the J. Thomas Schieffer Leadership Award in recognition of her role as a global leader in cultural diplomacy through advancing understanding of Japanese culture through food and lifestyle.

The main feature of the evening was undoubtedly the collaborative dinner featuring the culinary excellence of local chefs Hugo Ortega (executive chef/co-owner of five of Houston’s top restaurants – Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi and URBE, and winner of Best Chef: Southwest at the prestigious 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards) and Manabu Horiuchi (four-time James Beard Award nominee and Executive Chef at award-winning Kata Robata and soon-to-open Katami).

JASH is grateful to all those who made JASH BASH possible, providing funding to further the society’s mission of strengthening the bond of friendship between the U.S. and Japan through educational, business, and cultural initiatives.

View more photographs in the JASH BASH 2023 Gallery [HERE].

JASH gratefully acknowledges the support of:

SUSTAINER SPONSORS

  • The Friedkin Group / Gulf States Toyota

PARTNER SPONSORS

  • Kathy and Glen Gondo

ADVOCATE SPONSORS

  • JERA Americas

  • Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

  • Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.

  • Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

  • Debra Tsuchiyama Baker and Peter Rockrise

  • Miwa Sakashita and John Stroehlein, M.D.

  • Westlake Corporation

ALLY SPONSORS

  • Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc.

  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc.

  • MUFG Bank, Ltd.

  • SHINTECH Inc.

FRIEND SPONSORS

  • All Nippon Airways

  • BakerHostetler

  • Locke Lord, LLP

  • Midori and Jay Mochizuki

  • Nippon Steel

  • Nanako and Dale Tingleaf

HOST COMMITTEE

  • Donna Fujimoto Cole | Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc.

  • Fresi Travels | Tami Hiraoka & Lou Borrego

  • Dr. Risako Komaki-Cox

  • Prof. Hiroko Sato and Mr. Randy Singh

  • Dr. Jun and Mrs. Naoko Teruya

DONORS

  • Shirley Bloom

  • Carla K. Deluca

  • Aimee Dodson in honor of Miwa Sakashita

  • Shara Fryer

  • Dr. Hiroyuki Katayama

  • Killer Noodle

  • Gwendolyn Gantt Mullins

  • Nippon Shokubai America Industries, Inc.

  • Osaka Gas USA Corporation

  • Daniel Parker

  • Cheryl Renee Rhode